Dances Patrelle presents annual Nutcracker

Dances Patrelle presents the 17th annual production of The Yorkville Nutcracker this Thursday, Dec. 6 thru Sunday, Dec. 9 at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College.

The production features choreographer Francis Patrelle’s unique rendition of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic The Nutcracker. Set in 1895, The Yorkville Nutcracker takes the audience on an action-packed tour of Olde New York’s most beloved landmarks, including a holiday party at Gracie Mansion, dancing at the Crystal Palace in the New York Botanical Garden, and skating in Central Park.  

Lavish sets and costumes, enchanting music and beautiful dancers from ages 5 to 65 complete this thrilling production, with New York City Ballet principals Jenifer Ringer and Jared Angle as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.  In addition, Amaker Smith, currently appearing in the hit TV show SMASH,and Therese Wendler, who most recently danced Aurora in Sleeping Beauty with the Connecticut Ballet, will portray the Snow King and Queen.

Dances Patrelle is a dynamic professional ballet company embarking on their 25th season. The company presents two annual seasons in New York — this timeless holiday tradition, The Yorkville Nutcracker, and a spring repertory season, featuring world premieres and classic Patrelle favorites. Mr. Patrelle’s body of work includes more than 50 original ballets choreographed for Dances Patrelle, and spans an incredibly wide range of styles, from his beloved American Songbook collection, to such contemporary classics as Romeo and Juliet, Madame X, Macbeth and Rhapsody in Blue.  

The Yorkville Nutcracker will be presented at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, which is located at E. 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues, NYC. Performances will run Thursday thru Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets are $45 – $85 and are available at 212-772-4448 or in person at The Kaye Playhouse Box Office.  

For more information, visit www.dancespatrelle.org.

Photo: New York City Ballet principals Jenifer Ringer and Jared Angle. Photo by Rosalie O’Connor.